Methods and Kits for Customizing Articles

ABSTRACT

Kits and methods are provided for customization of articles by abrasion of materials that capable of retaining rub designs. The articles may, for example, be apparel such as jeans, and through the use of the components of the present invention one may transfer shapes, such symbols, letter, numbers, representations of animals, representations of persons, representation of flowers, representation of trees, representations of motor vehicles, logos or a combination thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of customization of clothes, accessories and other articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People like to express their individuality and often do so through the clothes that they wear and the accessories that they select. They show this individuality both when wearing the clothes and/or accessories and when sharing images of or participating in discussions about them on-line. However, there is an inherent challenge in trying to express one's individuality through mass produced goods. When companies produce and market new articles of clothing or accessories or new styles, the first purchasers and users may stand out, but as those articles become popular, by definition they are no longer expressions of individuality because a large number of people will wear and use them.

One solution that the apparel and accessories industries have found is to offer articles that can be customized by the user. For example, common gifts for young children and tweens are jewelry making kits and key chain making kits. For older persons, also sold in the marketplace are fabric pens and tools for adding jewels or other decorations to clothing, typically denim. Unfortunately, many of these and similar tools are not sufficiently user friendly, particularly for children.

Thus, to date the desire for consumers to find new ways to customize their apparel, accessories, and other articles of personal property remains unsatisfied. The present invention addresses this need by providing new, efficient, and user friendly tools, kits and methods for personalizing articles of personal property.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present invention provide one or more of tools, kits and methods for customizing articles, including but not limited to apparel, accessories and other goods. A person may use these embodiments to introduce the appearance of a shape to an article by removing color or material that corresponds to the shape. Through the use of the inventions described herein, one can effectively, efficiently and enjoyably customize articles.

According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a kit for customizing an article of personal property comprising: (a) a rubbing template, wherein the rubbing template has a front surface and a back surface, wherein the front surface defines a shape and the back surface has a surface area; (b) a rubbing tool, wherein the rubbing tool comprises an abrasive surface; and (c) a mounting sheet, wherein the mounting sheet comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises an adhesive material and the first surface has an area that is larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template.

According to a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method for customizing an article comprising: (a) affixing a rubbing template to a mounting sheet to form an affixed rubbing template, wherein the rubbing template has a front surface and a back surface, wherein the front surface defines a shape and the back surface has a surface area and wherein the mounting sheet comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises an adhesive material and the first surface has an area that is larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template; (b) placing the affixed rubbing template adjacent to an inside surface of an article at a transfer location; and (c) rubbing an outside surface of the article at a location that corresponds to the transfer location.

Through the use of the various components of the present invention, one may efficiently and effectively transfer shapes to articles, including but not limited to apparel and accessories. The various components of the kits and the tools recited for use in the methods described herein may be used together to provide an enjoyable way for children and adults to personalize their articles through the introduction of the appearance of shapes such as designs, slogans and letters.

These and other tools, kits, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The tools, kits and methods disclosed herein and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the following figures. Elements in the figures are presented for illustrative purposes, and they are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a representation of the front and back of a pair of jeans that have been customized.

FIG. 2 is a representation of two rubbing templates.

FIG. 3 is a representation of a rubbing template affixed to a mounting sheet.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a rubbing template situated under a layer of a pair of jeans.

FIG. 5 is a representation of person using a rubbing tool in order to create a rub design.

FIG. 6 is a representation of how the fabric, a rubbing template, and a mounting sheet may be oriented with a peel off adhesive in place to protect the mounting sheet prior to its use at a desired location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described in detail by describing various illustrative, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.

According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a kit for customizing articles. An article is “customized” when a user introduces his or her style through one or more designs, words, slogans, letters, symbols or representations of real or imaginary objects or other shapes. The term customized is used interchangeably with the term “personalized.” A “kit” refers to a combination of elements that are stored, sold or shipped together. They may, for example, exist in a box at a point of sale in a brick and mortar or online environment.

The kit comprises a rubbing template, a rubbing tool and a mounting sheet. Optionally, the kit may further contain one or both of a rubbings collector and an article of personal property. The components may be used to transfer a shape to the article efficiently and effectively. By transferring the shape, a shape that is the same size as that of a shape on the rubbing template may be caused to appear on the article of personal property; however, no physical part of the rubbing template becomes permanently affixed to or part of the article. Thus, the step of transferring is in effect a means by which to copy the shape through rubbing and displacement of coloring that was previously at a location on the article. What has been transferred and appears on the article may also be referred to as a “rub design.” Each of the aforementioned components is described below.

Rubbing Template

The rubbing template is a physical item that has a front surface that defines a shape of interest. The shape is what is to be transferred to the article. In some embodiments, only one surface of the rubbing template defines a shape to be transferred. In other embodiments, two, three, four, five, six, or more surfaces of the rubbing templates define different shapes that can be transferred at different locations of the same article or at location on one or more other articles.

In some embodiments, there is only one surface that defines a shape to be transferred, and that surface may be referred to as a front surface. In some embodiments, the front surface may be flat and it may form the outline of the shape and none of the interior of the shape; or the outline of the shape and some but not all of the interior of the shape; or the outline and the complete interior of the shape. In one embodiment, the front surface forms a relief. In some embodiments, the front surface is flat and all of the edges or some of the edges (e.g., only the edges that form the exterior of the shape when the shape to be transferred contains less than the complete interior as defined by the outline) of the front surface are beveled. Through the use of beveled edges, one can reduce the likelihood of tearing of any article of personal property or fabric to which a shape is to be transferred.

When the front surface defines only the outline of the shape, there may be recesses in the rubbing template between the outline so that when the shape is transferred, the article displays only an outline of that shape. In these embodiments, the rear surface may be solid. Alternatively, when the shape is to form an outline, the interior between the outline over the entire height of the shape may have an absence of material, which renders the rubbing template similar to a cookie cutter with a thick wall. As persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, in these cases, the front surface forms the perimeter of the shape. As a person of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize, these gaps, regardless of whether they extend all of the way through the rubbing template will correspond to areas on the article in which color or material is not removed. In some embodiments, the outline is a uniform thickness and, e.g., 2 mm to 10 mm or 3 mm to 8 mm.

When the front surface defines the outline of the shape and only a portion of the interior of the shape, there may be recesses so that when the shape is transferred, the article displays an outline of that shape and certain features that are not along the perimeter of the shape. This allows for more complex designs to be used. For example, select features of an animal or plant or flower may form part of the front surface or designs within shapes such as stars, hearts and rainbows may be formed by the presence of lines that appear in the interior of the shape. By way of non-limiting examples, the features and lines may have a thick of 2 to 10 mm or 4 to 6 mm.

On the rubbing template the side that contains the front surface may have depressions between the elements of the first surface so that the back surface remains solid, or the gaps between the front surface may extend through to the back surface. As a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, these gaps, regardless of whether they extend all of the way through the rubbing template will correspond to areas on the article in which color or material is not removed.

In any case in which there are depressions, the distance from the back surface of the rubbing template, which is the surface that is opposite of the front surface may be a first distance and the depressions may be a uniform second distance from the back surface or each depression may be a second distance from the back surface that is not uniform. Alternatively, when the shape is to form an outline, the interior between the outline over the height of the shape is hollow. Thus, in these cases, the front surface forms the perimeter of the shape and the back surface is configured in the same manner.

When the front surface defines the outline and the complete interior of the shape, a solid shape will appear on the article after transfer and the face on which the first surface is located is a uniform distance from the rear surface.

The term “shape” includes but is not limited to a symbol, a pattern of symbols, a letter, a group of letters, a word, a phrase, a number, a representation of an animal, a representation of a person, a representation of a flower, a representation of a tree, a representation or a motor vehicle, a logo or a combination thereof. Further, when a shape is used, one may repeat the transferring process with that shape or alternating with other shapes or a non-regularly alternating plurality of shapes to create a pattern of shapes.

Each of the front surface and the rear surface has a surface area. The surface area of the front surface may be smaller than, larger than or the same size as that of the rear surface. In some embodiments, the walls of the rubbing template are all perpendicular to the front surface and the rear surface.

The rubbing template may be made of any material that is sufficiently sturdy that the acts of rubbing and affixing as described in this specification will not destroy its integrity. Further, the material is preferably sufficiently sturdy that it allows for effective transfer of a shape and reuse of the rubbing template. By way of non-limiting examples, the rubbing template may comprise, consist essentially of or consist of rubber, plastic, wood, a laminate material, one or more metals, one or more metal oxides, or a metal alloy, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the rubbing template comprises, consists essentially of or consists of rubber and a laminate material and the first surface is rubber and the second surface is the laminate material. When the material is rubber, preferably it is sufficiently sturdy, that rubbing as described herein will not distort its shape.

In some embodiments, none of the surfaces of the rubbing template are adhesive. In other embodiments, the front surface comprises or is associated with a tacky material that allows for reversible adhesion to another surface. When a tacky material is present, preferably it is the selected so that it permits reversible association with the article at a desired location.

In some embodiments, the rubbing template may, for example, be from 2 cm to 30 cm or from 5 cm to 20 cm long; from 2 cm to 30 cm or from 5 cm to 20 cm wide; and from 1 cm to 5 cm or from 2 cm to 4 cm high.

In some embodiments, the rubbing template also comprises a loop. The loop may be made of the same material or different material as that of which the rubbing template is made, e.g., plastic, rubber, metal, a metal oxide or combinations thereof. Alternatively, it may comprise, consist of or consist essentially of a different material such as an elastic rubber that is more flexible than the material of the rubbing template. The loop is preferably situated so that it does not interfere with either the process of the transferring of the shape or the process of causing the subbing template to affix to the mounting sheet. For example, it may be located on a side of the rubbing template. This loop may be used to hang the rubbing template on a hook or through a clip. In some embodiments the diameter of the loop is 0.5 to 5 cm or 1 to 4 cm.

Rubbing Tool

The rubbing tool is designed to rub or scratch off color containing elements of the article. This is accomplished at the locations on the article that are overlain at the highest points on the rubbing template i.e., the front surface. When the article is pulled taut over the rubbing template, those points will have the greatest tension and will either not bend or give in response to being rubbed, or they will do so less than the areas at which there is less tension. Consequently, in these areas in which the highest tension is formed, the rubbing tool will permit removal of color containing elements of the article. By contrast, in other areas, the material of the article will move, fold or crease in response to rubbing, and the rubbing tool will cause no or de minims amounts of the color containing elements to be removed.

In some embodiments, the rubbing tool comprises an abrasive surface. The abrasive surface may, for example, be made of a combination of an elastomeric material and abrasive particles. The abrasive particles may be embedded in and/or disposed upon the surface of the elastomeric material so that a sufficient number of abrasive particles are capable of contacting and abrading the fabric. Examples of elastomers include but are not limited to nitrile, rubber, urethanes such as polyurethane, acrylics, epoxies, polyvinyl chlorides and butadiene rubber. The abrasive particles are preferably rigid and/or granular. Many different types of abrasive particles may be used alone or in combination with one another, including aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, alumina zirconia, diamond, ceria, cubic beron nitride, ganat, ground ceramic particles, ground plastics (i.e., polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), gromid glos and quartz.

The abrasive surface may be located on fewer than all sides of the rubbing tool, e.g., on only one side, which may be referred to as a rubbing face. By way of a non-limiting example, the rubbing tool may be an emery board.

In some embodiments, in addition to an abrasive surface, there may also be a buffing surface. The buffing surface may, for example, also be located on the rubbing face. When both the abrasive surface and the buffing surface are located on the rubbing face, they may, for example, be located on opposite portions of the rubbing face so that a user is able to use exclusively the abrasive surface or the buffing surface at any one time and to switch between them he or she may rotate the device, e.g., 180 degrees. The abrasive surface is designed to permit scratching away of color containing material, whereas the buffing material is designed to slide away the material and to give the appearance of a complete removal.

By way of further example, the rubbing tool may be in the form of a flexible foam block such as a block made from polyurethane that has an abrasive coating. The foam block may be molded or cut into a shape and of a size that renders it suitable for holding by a user in her or his hand. Thus, it may have gripping material, and additionally or alternatively indentations that correspond to places for a user's fingers. Alternatively, in some embodiments it may be rectangular or substantially a 3-D rectangle.

In some embodiments, the rubbing tool may, for example, be approximately 8 cm to 30 cm long, 5 cm to 10 cm side and 1 cm to 4 cm high.

Mounting Sheet

The mounting sheet holds the rubbing template in place. Thus, it is configured to be placed under the material to which the shape of the rubbing template is to be transferred. The mounting sheet may be rigid or flexible or semi-flexible. Preferably when nothing is affixed to the mounting sheet it is flat or substantially flat. In some embodiments, it may be in the form of flexible foam that has a surface with adhesive properties or has been treated with a material to render that surface adhesive. The adhesive property of the mounting sheet allows for the mounting sheet to maintain contact with the article of personal property to which the shape will be transferred during the transferring process, including but not limited to during the rubbing step. Thus, it facilitates locking in place of the shape relative to the article of personal property when the shape is mounted on the mounting sheet because the shape is affixed to the mounting sheet and the mounting sheet is affixed to the article of personal property. The ability to cause the mounting sheet to retain its position, and thus the shape to retain its position, relative to the article of personal property will allow users to create greater contrast in their designs.

The mounting sheet may be defined by its first surface and its second surface. The first surface comprises an adhesive material. Within the definition of comprising an adhesive material is the situation in which it is coated with the adhesive material. When not in use, the mounting sheet may have a protective coating or film that rests on the first surface. This protective coating or film may, for example, comprise, consist essentially of or consist of plastic that is capable of being removed from the mounting sheet and leaving the adhesive material capable of adhering to other materials.

Preferably, the mounting sheet is designed so that the protective coating or film may be reused on the same mounting sheet to protect the adhesive material from either or both of becoming permanently affixed to another surface and drying out. This additional sheet may be in the form of a peel off adhesive. Regardless of whether there is a peel off adhesive or other protection sheet, the mounting sheet may be designed such that its adhesive is reusable. The advantage of a peel off adhesive that may be reusable is that it prolongs the life of the mounting sheet.

On the side of the mounting sheet that is opposite to the first surface is a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface comprises or is coated with a material that is not adhesive. By way of a non-limiting example, the second side comprises, consists essentially of or consists of rubber and/or a laminate material. In these embodiments, the second side is non-adhesive and although friction may hold it in place with another surface, no adhesive material is present to cause adhesion.

Preferably, the first surface of the mounting sheet has an area that is larger than the surface area of the back surface and the front surface of the rubbing template. Furthermore, preferably the surface area of the first surface of the mounting sheet is larger than the combined surface areas of the back surface and all of the side surfaces of the rubbing template. In some embodiments, the first surface of the mounting sheet has an area of adhesive material that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, or at least 60% larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template.

By way of a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the mounting sheet is a regular shape such as a circle, ellipse, oval, triangle square, rectangle with adjacent sides having unequal lengths, or other polygon. In other embodiments, the mounting surface is an irregular shape. For example, it may be circle with a radius of 4 cm to 15 cm or 8 cm to 12 cm. In other non-limiting examples, it may be a square with sides from 5 cm to 30 cm or 10 cm to 20 cm or a rectangle with a length from 5 to 10 cm and a width from 8 to 30 cm. In some embodiments, the mounting sheet has a thickness of 2 mm to 30 mm or 5 mm to 25 mm or 10 mm to 15 mm.

For illustrative purposes, one mounting sheet is described above as being used with a single rubbing template. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that provided that the mounting sheet is sufficiently larger relative to the size of a plurality of rubbing templates, a single mounting sheet could be used with a plurality of rubbing templates, e.g., at least 2, at least 3, at least 4 or at least 5. In these cases, optionally, the rubbing templates contain mating members that allow them to be held is place relative to each other, e.g., a male member on one side and a female member on the other side, wherein these sides are neither the front surface nor the back surface. Further, one could use a plurality of mounting sheets each with one or more rubbing templates in a desired orientation and location relative to one another. In these embodiments, the mounting sheets may be the same or different sizes.

Rubbings Collector

In some embodiments, the present invention comprises a rubbings collector. The rubbings collector is a device that is constructed to collect the rubbings i.e., the material of the article that has been removed through abrasion, thereby leaving the shape. The rubbings collector may have an adhesive surface similar to that of a lint brush. Additionally or alternatively, it may have a magnet, which would be of use should the material that is abraded contain metal.

The rubbings collector may be a separate instrument or it may be configured to be reversibly affixed to the rubbing tool. In some embodiments, the rubbings collector has an adhesive surface that is capable of reversibly adhering to the rubbing tool and the adhesive surface is wider than the rubbing tool.

Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the rubbings collector may have a cut out or be otherwise configured with a region that forms a trough in which at least part of the rubbing tool may rest. The side of the rubbings collector that abuts the rubbing tool may be affixed to the rubbings tool through one or more of clips, snaps, hook and latches e.g., VELCROX®, and an adhesive surface. As persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, in each of the aforementioned systems other than the use of an adhesive surface, two elements are used and one must be on the rubbings collector and the other reciprocal element on the rubbing tool. Preferably, the two devices are capable of being reversibly affixed to each other. Thus, each of the rubbing tool and the rubbings collector may be reused after being separated from each other, regardless of whether they are re-associated with each other.

As noted above, the rubbing tool may have an abrasive surface. In various embodiments, preferably, this is not the side that abuts the rubbings collector when the rubbings collector is used.

When the rubbing tool sits within the trough preferably, the rubbings collector is wider than the rubbings tool. For example, it may be 1 to 5 cm wider than the rubbing tool on each side of the rubbing tool. By being wider than the rubbing tool, the rubbings collector can collect rubbings after each movement of the rubbing tool from side to side. In other dimensions, the rubbings collector may be shorter or longer than the length of the rubbing tool and e.g., 0.5 cm to 5 cm thick.

In some embodiments the rubbings collector is configured with a hand-grip or a handle. When there is a handgrip, it may, for example, reside on the back of the trough. When there is a handle, it may, for example, extend from the back side of the trough.

Article of Personal Property

The article of personal property is the article to which the shape will be transferred. Preferably, it is capable of retaining a rub design and it may, for example, be a fabric. Prior to use of the present invention, the fabric may have a coloring at a location at which the shape is to be formed. After using the present invention, the coloring in that region of the fabric will have been removed and the shape will be defined by a negative, i.e., an absence of color. The rub design may be created when the fabric is either in the form of an article, for example, a consumer product, or it may be in the form of a sheet or swatch that is to be incorporated into the article.

Fabrics that are capable of retaining a rub design and methods for making those fabrics are described in WO 2014/035817, Ring Dyed Polymer Treated Materials, published Mar. 6, 2014; the entire disclosure of this reference is incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety and examples of information that describes types of fabrics as discussed in that disclosure appear in the following paragraphs.

Fabrics that may be used to retain a rub design include but are not limited to materials that have been formed from one or both of ring dyed yarn and surface dyed yarn. These materials may be prepared with a dye binding composition that includes a polymer and/or additives that are engineered to provide a minimum or maximum degree of migration to position the composition within or on a fiber surface depending on molecular weight and monomer selection. The polymer is generally applied in an aqueous medium. The polymer can be formulated from a number of monomers in the urethane, guanidine, azetidinium, and vinyl halogen families to form polymer emulsions. The solids added on to the textile substrate can range from 0.5% to 50% or 2.0% to 12.0%). Preferably, the polymer has good film forming properties, is durable to laundering conditions, has the ability to incorporate materials that can provide targeted dyestuff attraction and durability, and/or is capable of fixing the dye in its matrix.

In some embodiments, the dye binding composition comprises a urethane based polymer with a molecular weight ranging from 1,000 to 400,000 g/mole or from 2,000 to 200,000 g/mole. The urethane based polymer may be designed to attract and hold selective dyes. In some embodiments, additional materials may be added. The urethane based polymer, in some embodiments, comprises a polyurethane dispersion.

For dyeing with selective dyes, materials that can attract targeted dyes within the polymeric matrix may be incorporated into the dye binding composition. In some embodiments, the dye binding composition comprises cellulose esters including cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the dye binding composition comprises the polymer and the cellulose ester.

In some embodiments, the dye binding composition is applied to fibers, yarns, fabrics, and garments in concentrations ranging from 0.5%> to 50%> solids; however, with greater percent solids come greater expense and greater stiffness. In one embodiment, the percent solids range to be applied to the fibers, yarns, fabrics, or garments is between 2.0 and 12.0% or between 3.0 and 10.0%. Preferably, the dye binding composition, including the percentage of solids in the composition, is specifically engineered to produce a dye binding composition that causes the polymer and/or selective dye to migrate to the surface for use in producing ring dyed yarns and/or surface dyed fabrics.

Yarns and fabrics can be constructed from any of a host of textile fiber, particularly natural fibers including cotton, wool, silk, hemp, flax, or synthetic fibers including polyesters, rayon, acetate, acrylics, nylons (aromatic and aliphatic), modacrylics, spandex, olefins inclusive of super high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., or combinations of two or more of these fibers. In some embodiments, the yarn contains fiber comprised of 100% cotton. In other embodiments, the yarns comprise cotton fibers blended with non-cotton fibers. The blend of fibers, in some embodiments, is at least 50% cotton fibers.

In the case of applying the chemical to yarn, yarns may be coated and the polymer of the dye binding composition dried such that the yarns are not broken from being stuck together after drying. The dye binding composition can be applied to scoured yarn, scoured & bleached yarn, or yarn in its raw state. Each condition provides a different appearance with the raw yarn providing the greatest ring dyed characteristic. Bath concentrations are also different under each condition because of the absorbency of the yarn for the polymer/water mixture; however, targeted solids addition range from 2.0% to 12.0% depending upon the size of the yarn being treated.

Examples of articles of personal property that may be used in connection with various embodiments of the present invention include but are not limited to apparel for dancers, such as, tee shirts, sweatshirts, pants, leggings, shorts and jackets; athletic such as, namely, shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, hats and caps, athletic uniforms; athletic footwear; athletic tops and bottoms for running, exercising, sports activities, sports activities and yoga, exercising, sports activities and yoga; baseball caps and hats; bath slippers; bathing suits; bathrobes; beach footwear; belts; boots; bottoms; bow ties; boxer briefs; briefs; coats; compression garments for athletic or other non-medical use, namely, running, exercising, sports activities and yoga; denim jackets; dresses; ear muffs; footwear; gloves; graphic T-shirts; hats; headwear; hosiery; jackets; jeans; loungewear; mittens; neckwear; pajamas; pants; rainwear; scarves; shoes; shorts; skirts; slippers; sneakers; socks; sports caps and hats; sports jackets; sports jerseys; sports pants; sports shirts; sports vests; sweat bands; sweatshirts; swimwear; tee shirts; tops; underwear; yoga pants; yoga shirts, backpacks; bags for carrying babies' accessories; all-purpose sport bags; athletic bags; backpack straps; bags for sports; beach bags; belt bags and hip bags; book bags; briefcases and attaché cases; bum bags; canvas shopping bags; carry-all bags; carry-on bags; carrying cases; clutch bags; cosmetic bags; cosmetic carrying cases; diaper bags; drawstring bags; duffle bags; fanny packs; fashion handbags; garment bags for travel; sport trolley bags; gym bags; handbags; hiking bags; jewelry pouches; knapsacks; luggage; make-up bags; messenger bags; military duffle bags, garment bags for travel, tote bags, shoulder bags and backpacks; pouches; purses; roll bags; school bags; school book bags; shaving bags; shoulder bags; sports bags; suit bags; toiletry bags; tote bags; travel bags; umbrellas; wallets; decorative ribbons; elastic ribbons; hair accessories, claw clips; hair sticks; jaw clips; nap clips; twisters; scrunchies; hair ribbons; ribbons; and bath mats; carpets and rugs; door mats; floor mats; and wallpaper.

Methods for Customizing Articles

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for customizing an article. The method begins with affixing a rubbing template to a mounting sheet to form an affixed rubbing template. The affixing may be to an adhesive surface of the mounting sheet. The template and the mounting sheet may be defined as elsewhere in this specification.

Next, one places the affixed rubbing template to an inside surface of an article at a transfer location. Because the mounting sheet is larger than the rubbing template, a portion of the adhesive surface of the mounting sheet that is not affixed to the rubbing surface may be affixed to the article. Finally, one rubs an outside surface of the article at a location that corresponds to the transfer location.

The rubbing may be performed with a rubbing tool and the rubbing tool may comprise an abrasive surface. By using the abrasive surface, one may displace color material form the article. In some embodiments, the rubbing tool further comprises a buffing surface, act the act of rubbings comprises: (i) rubbing with the abrasive surface; and (ii) rubbing with the buffing surface.

In some embodiments, the rubbing tool is associated with a rubbings collector. The rubbings collector has an adhesive surface that is capable of reversibly adhering to the rubbing tool and the adhesive surface of the rubbings collector is wider than the rubbing tool. When using the rubbings collector, the method further comprises collecting displaced rubbings through adhesion of the displaced rubbings to the adhesive surface.

In some embodiments, the fabric is denim or a denim blend. The denim may be treated on its surface with ink. The fabric may be any color or colors, or combination of colors, e.g., one or more of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet or combinations thereof. After abrasion of a color, e.g., blue in blue jeans, one may see an absence of dye color, e.g., white.

Various embodiments of the present invention may be further illustrated by reference to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 is a representation of the front and back of a pair of jeans 100 that has been customized. The front side of the jeans 110 shows various designs 130 that have been rubbed out of the jeans. The rear side of the jeans 120 also shows various designs 140 that have been rubbed out of the jeans.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a set of rubbing templates. By way of a non-limiting example, shown are two-dimensional representations of a peace sign 210 and a star 280. The star is an example of a solid shape, whereas the peace sign is an example of a partially solid shape, i.e., a shape in which there would be gaps or color showing between what has been removed after transfer through the abrasion described in this specification.

FIG. 3 is a representation of a rubbing template in the form of a star 380 affixed to a mounting sheet 330. As with FIG. 2, for illustrative purposes, the representation is shown in two dimensions.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a rubbing template 480 situated under a layer of a pair of jeans 410. For illustrative purposes, the dotted lines are used to define the boundary of the star in order to represent that the shape is under the front side of the jeans.

FIG. 5 is a representation of person 570 using a rubbing tool 550 in order to create a rub design 585 on a pair of jeans 510. The underside of the rubbings tool contains the abrasive surface.

FIG. 6 is a representation of how the fabric 620, a rubbing template 640, and a mounting sheet 680 may be oriented with a peel off adhesive 662 in place to protect the mounting sheet prior to its use at a desired location. By leaving the protective sheet in place until actual use of the adhesive surface of the mounting sheet, one can try out different positions of the rubbing template relative to the article before transferring a shape.

Various aspects of the present invention have been described for use in connection with one or more embodiments. However, unless explicitly stated or otherwise apparent from context, each feature described above in any one embodiment may be used in connection with any and all embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kit for customizing an article of personal property comprising: (a) a rubbing template, wherein the rubbing template has a front surface and a back surface, wherein the front surface defines a shape and the back surface has a surface area; (b) a rubbing tool, wherein the rubbing tool comprises an abrasive surface; and (c) a mounting sheet, wherein the mounting sheet comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises an adhesive material and the first surface has an area that is larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the shape is comprised of rubber.
 3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the back surface of the shape is laminated.
 4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface comprises a tacky material.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the area of the first surface of the mounting sheet is at least 30% larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template.
 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the rubbing tool further comprises an abrasive surface.
 7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the rubbing tool has a rubbing face and the abrasive surface and the buffing surface are located on the same side of the rubbing face.
 8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the rubbing tool has a non-abrasive surface and the kit further comprises a rubbings collector, wherein the rubbings collector has an adhesive surface and is capable of reversibly associating with the rubbing tool on the non-adhesive surface, and the adhesive surface of the rubbings collector is wider than the rubbing tool.
 9. The kit of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material in reusable.
 10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the mounting sheet comprises a foam material.
 11. The kit of claim 1, wherein the shape forms at least one of a symbol, a letter, a number, a representation of an animal, a representation of a person, a representation of a flower, a representation of a tree, a representation or a motor vehicle, a logo or a combination thereof.
 12. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface is a flat surface that forms the outline of the shape and none of the interior of the shape.
 13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the flat surface has one or more edges that are beveled.
 14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface is a flat surface that forms the outline of the shape and some but not the entire interior of the shape.
 15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the flat surface has one or more edges that are beveled.
 16. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface is a flat surface that forms the outline and the complete interior of the shape.
 17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the flat surface has one or more edges that are beveled.
 18. The kit of claim 1, wherein the rubbing template comprise a loop, wherein the loop is configured to allow the rubbing template to hang from a hook or a clip.
 19. The kit of claim 1 further comprising an article of personal property, wherein the article of personal property comprises a fabric and the fabric is capable of retaining a rub design.
 20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the article is a pair of jeans.
 21. The kit of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the shape is rubber, the rubbing tool has a rubbing face and the rubbing face comprises a first region that forms an abrasive surface and a second region that forms a buffing surface.
 22. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a rubbings collector, wherein the rubbings collector has an adhesive surface and is capable of reversibly adhering to the rubbing tool, and wherein the adhesive surface of the rubbings collector is wider than the rubbing tool.
 23. The kit of claim 22 further comprising an article of personal property, wherein the article of personal property comprises a fabric and the fabric is capable of retaining a rub design.
 24. The kit of claim 23, wherein the article is a pair of jeans.
 25. A method for customizing an article of personal property comprising: (a) affixing a rubbing template to a mounting sheet to form an affixed rubbing template, wherein the rubbing template has a front surface and a back surface, wherein the front surface defines a shape and the back surface has a surface area and wherein the mounting sheet comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises an adhesive material and the first surface has an area that is larger than the surface area of the back surface of the rubbing template; (b) placing the affixed rubbing template adjacent to an inside surface of an article at a transfer location; and (c) rubbing an outside surface of the article at a location that corresponds to the transfer location.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the rubbing of step (c) is performed with a rubbing tool and the rubbing tool comprises an abrasive surface.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the rubbing tool further comprises a buffing surface, and said rubbings comprises: (i) rubbing with the abrasive surface; and (ii) rubbing with the buffing surface.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the rubbing tool is associated with a rubbings collector, wherein the rubbings collector has an adhesive surface that is capable of reversibly adhering to the rubbing tool and the adhesive surface is wider than the rubbing tool and the method further comprises collecting displaced rubbings through adhesion of the displaced rubbings to the adhesive surface of the rubbings collector.
 29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the affixing of step (a) is performed by affixing the first surface of the mounting sheet to the back surface of the rubbing template. 